Photographing the earth from above in the early twentieth century required great ingenuity. One hundred years before drones, the two best ways both had their drawbacks. Balloons and kites could take a camera but were very restricted in their movement and speed. The stage was set for a faster, rangier kind of aerial reconnaissance. In 1907 the apothecary and amateur pigeon fancier Dr Julius G. Neubronner presented a solution to the German patent office — the pigeon camera. To read more about the pigeon cameras visit the public domain review: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/dr-julius-neubronner-s-miniature-pigeon-camera
Below: One of the first of the aerial shots of the Schlosshotel in Kronberg, became famous for accidentally capturing the wing tips of its intrepid creator.
Below: Collage I created inspired by Dr. Neubronner's images.
Below: Dr. Neubronner's schematics for the camera and harness:
